Chapter 2

Edited by: Mystic

Within the last few weeks, Ai Yui had been making sure that he had everything he would need to finish so that he could focus on working out a way to get the VR helmet. He wasn't too hopeful that he would win the prize, so he was trying to find a tutoring job that would help him earn enough money to buy one. Dashi had said he was silly and he should just ask his parents for money, as they were wealthy. Despite knowing how strict Ai's parents were, he still thought they'd, at last, give him some kind of money for spending expenses. Didn't parents usually do that? What more if they weren't tight on money?

Ai Yui ignored him and just continued searching the bulletin board. He saw several requests for tutors but most were gauged for upperclassmen. Though he was the top student of his year, that was still only for his class year. He couldn't assist senior students on assignments since he wasn't even in those classes to learn the material! Sure he could probably figure it out, but what upperclassman would want a lower class-man to teach them?

Thankfully though he found a request for someone to help with basics in cooking. It wasn't a tutoring job but rather a job for someone to help with daily meals and cleaning around the dorm room. This was odd because normally students did this themselves, why pay for someone to cook and lean for you? What more the person even requested that the person MUST be male, so it was a godsend for him! Guys were even less likely to enjoy cleaning and cooking as he had done. Though it was more due to his mother's influences.

He took the tab from the lower part of the paper and headed towards the dorm room that it listed. Hopefully, the spot wasn't full and he'd be able to start work soon. Even if he didn't manage to get the money by the time the winners got the headgear for the VR game, he'd at least be able to buy one soon afterward right? Excited for the first time in a long time, Ai Yui hurried along the halls of the dorm room.

After reaching the room in question he quickly knocked, light and soft but still loud enough for someone inside to hear if home. Waiting, he stood with his hands clasped before him, a slight smile on his face. He had his hair pulled up into the normal messy bun and his glasses hung on his nose, making his already small face seem even smaller with the large rimmed glasses. When the door finally Opened, a male that was almost two feet taller than him opened the door, looking straight over his head while looking around confused.

Ai Yui coughed before the male, finally getting him to glance down. He gave a confused glance before tilting his head. "Yes?" He asked in a deep voice. He had short shaggy dark hair and deep black eyes. His build was slim but still held a manly feel to it. Ai Yui stared at him for a moment with his pale blue eyes, looking at the male he always dreamed to have been. "ah...Yeah um.." he stumbled over his words after regaining his senses! Ah! Embarrassing! Why was he zoning out now?!

"I came because of the request for a helper in cleaning and cooking?" he said in a soft tone, still embarrassed for just standing there staring a moment ago.

Saoi Hiro stared down at the small figure before him. He wasn't sure what a girl was doing here in the male's rooms, but when they finally explained he frowned even more. "I said that it was for males only..." he said as if slightly annoyed. To be honest, he disliked girls because they always tried to trick him somehow into dating them. Always fake and never did they really understand how he was. Making up this farce as to how he was the perfect price. He had placed the notice so he could get help with his daily needs. He was too busy to clean his room and he was rather bad at cooking and hated to go out for food. Always being followed by a pack of girls.

Ai Yui blinked a few times before his face became slightly read with a slight pout. "I am a boy..." he said as if he had been horribly wronged. This caused Saoi to scrunch his eyebrows together as if confused. Clearly, the person before him was small and adorable, like a little fairy. "Um...sure?" he said as if unsure. Ai Yui sighed before pulling out his ID Card and handing it over, pointing at the location of his gender. "See? Male!"

Saoi took it and glanced over the card, he seemed to need a long while to look at it before finally giving a light laugh. "Okay okay. A male I get it" he said giving the card back. Ai still pouted slightly as he put his card away. "So are you still looking for the help?" he asked. He really wanted the job, even if this person had called him a girl, and refused to believe him until proof was given. How hateful!

Saoi shifted slightly, rubbing the back of his head as he shifted, opening the door. His gloomy look was gone and giving way to an awkward look as he waved the smaller male in, he really couldn't understand how a boy could be so cute looking. To be honest, if he didn't have such a dislike of girls due to the way they asked, he'd rather liked how Ai Yui looked. Saoi himself was always more open when around guys, so he wasn't like the 'ice price' the girls referred to him as. What more The boy seemed to not even know who he was, seeming unaffected with being around him. Even a few guys had trouble talking to him face to face. Saoi was the star in the Kendo club.

Ai Yui related some as he hurried into the room and glanced around. It was really a pigsty! There was empty carry out all over the place, and books were just tossed here and there. what more the clothes that were all over the floor seemed to haven't been washed for a while! He quickly turned to look at the larger male with shock. "Ah?! Did you get robbed?" he asked as if it wasn't normal for a boys room to look like this.

Saoi coughed as he shifted awkwardly to sit down on the bed, the only spot in the room free of junk. "No, I'm just too busy to keep up with cleaning. Besides exams and what I have to do for my club, I also have a sort of part-time job? Well, 2 of them to be honest." he said as he glanced around his room "Plus I can't cook. So that's there too...I dislike having to eat out all the time, it's really a bother."

Ai Yui pressed his lips together feeling a bit sorry for his words. "Well. If you are still looking for someone I can start now," he said. He really couldn't' fathom being so busy that one wasn't able to at least keep one room somewhat orderly. But then again he mainly only studied... Plus he forced his roommate to do what he could to keep the room orderly enough.

Saoi smiled as he nodded. "Please! Oh, and while you clean I'll rush to the store to get stuff for dinner. If you don't mind doing that too? Just make a list. You can make enough for two if you want to eat here as well. Might as well eat if you cook it" he said.

Ai Yui nodded, that seemed fair. "Okay, here," he said while taking out a notepad from the pile of junk to his side, he found a pen on the table and began to make a list of what he needed for a meal tonight before handing it over. "Will that be okay?" he asked hopefully. He didn't want to make a list of something outrageous, he might be cooking it, but not paying for it.

Saoi nodded before heading out with the list after putting his shoes on. While he was gone, Ai Yui got to work on making sure the room would be spotless. He disliked how filthy it was ah!

And as such the next few weeks passed with Ai Yui cleaning and cooking for Saoi in the mornings. He managed to save up some money but nowhere enough money to afford the VR headset. Sighing, he made his way to his room after finishing the dishes after dinner with Saoi. It became normal to eat there after work, he would make several meals to last the week until he came to clean again. So he didn't need to worry about always rushing over every day. His cooking was praised to the heavens by Saoi who seemed to really enjoy it.

When Ai made it back to his dorm, his roommate Dashi was waiting for him, holding a package. "Hey, this thing came for you," he said, handing it over. Ai took it and went to his bed before opening it up to find the headset he had applied to win. His eyes grew larger as he stared at the object in his hands, seeming to be lost for a moment. "I...won?"